102 AUSTRALIA AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



I touched him very gently with my cane. He 

 dropped his nose downwards, that is, raised it up- 

 wards, and opened those cunning little eyes, as if to 

 ask, " What do you want, sir ? Have you anything 

 for me to eat ? " And then he put his chin back where 

 it was, quite unconcernedly, leaving us to admire his 

 shining black waterproof gossamer. 



These animals, as also some others of the great bat 

 tribe, are a perfect pest to growers of fruit. Nocturnal 

 in their habits, they come down on the trees while 

 men sleep, so that it is difficult to guard against them. 



THE DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 



Of all the queer animals in Australia, the duck- 

 billed platypus is the most so. 



This is the link (or one of them) between the birds 

 and the beasts. It is about eighteen inches long, and 

 of a dark brown color. Its shape and its habits are 

 very much like that of the otter. Its fur is very much 

 finer ; in fact, its fur is probably the finest and thickest 

 of any animal known. 



A coat or cloak made of platypus fur would be 

 valued at not less than eighty or one hundred pounds, 

 that is, four or five hundred dollars. Through the 

 kindness of a friend, we were able to bring with us 

 two skins as curios. 



